2002 VALPAR Outstanding Special Needs Program Awards

VALPAR is pleased to be a 2002 sponsor of the ACTE - Association for Career and Technical Education Conference

Valpar International annually presents this award at the ACTE Special Needs luncheon to outstanding programs in the nation, and congratulates this years awardee.

Mark Sponaugle, Vocational Resource Educator

The Vocational Resource Educator Program at Carthage Technical Center in Carthage, Missouri is a worthy recipient of this year’s VALPAR Outstanding Secondary Special Needs Program Award. The Program is extremely fortunate to have Mark Sponaugle on staff. In his position as the only Vocational Resource Educator, he remains busy working with students and teachers by reading tests, assisting with projects, helping with homework, monitoring grades, modifying curriculum, and many other duties as needed.

Mark Sponaugle in front of Carthage Technical Center

Mark divides his days working with special needs students, their parents, and his colleagues in Career and Technical Education. Other program services provided by Mark include interagency collaborations with Vocational Rehabilitation, Private Industry Council and the Missouri Career Center. As the VRE, Mark assists with a variety of transition and VRE services. He is an integral part of the success of students with special needs in the career and technical programs at Carthage Tech Center.

The positive effects of this successful program will be evident for years to come-it serves as a model to those of us who seek to affect meaningful change with our special needs students on a day-to-day basis. This is definitely high profile program with an equally high profile educator.

Valpar 2001 Awardees
Valpar 2000 Awardees
Valpar 1999 Awardees